Fire-escape.



H. RAUBER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

1,101,714 Patented June 3019M FiywW mmom z UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

HEINRICH RAUBER, 01F RIGA, RUSSIA.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HEINRICH RAUBER, subject of the German Emperor, residing at Riga, Russia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a ladder specially adapted for use as a fire escape.

According to this invention, the ladder may be swung sidewise from its position of suspension. The pivoted side bars of the ladder are so arranged with respect to the cross bars or steps that the ladder may be collapsed longitudinally.

Conveniently, the invention comprises two or more sets of pivoted side pieces with cross bars connecting alternate joints to the pivoted side piece in parallel sets.

The fire escape or ladder may conveniently be arranged on windows, balconies to form a railing or part of the flower pot rack. The rapid adjustment of the ladder in its proper position may advantageously be effected by arranging the ladder rotatable about a pivot at one end so as to bring it from a horizontal to a vertical position, while the other ends of the pivoted sets of levers is or are provided with hooks engaging over a supporting rail on the window ledge, balcony or the like. The pivoted levers forming the side bars are preferably provided with stops so as to limit their inclination when in the collapsed position and also to limit their extending movement. This insures the ladder always being in a position to collapse properly when raised and to assume its proper position when lowered.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of one form given by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Figure 1, is a front view of a flower rack on a window with the ladder applied thereto in a collapsed form. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in extended form. Fig. 3, is a detail of one pair of side bars. Fig. 4;, is a plan of the details shown in Fig. 3.

In carrying the invention into effect the fire escape or ladder a comprises a plurality of parallel sets of side pivoted links 7). In the example shown two sets of such links I), are provided. At alternate pivoting points at each side, cross bars 0, are arranged to connect the two sets, these cross bars being Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1314.

Serial No. wanes.

arranged at the alternate pivoting points 11, while the other set of alternate pivoting points are preferably provided with stops as hereinafter described.

The topmost cross bar is pivotally mount ed on the standard or column (Z, so that this top bar may be swung from the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. The outer swinging end of this cross bar is provided with a hook f, adapted to engage over a supporting bar 9. In the collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, the bar 0, and the lower or opposite extending end of the ladder are held by hooks 2', which may be pivotally mounted to the top rail h, of the flower pot bracket. Suitable stops or pins are provided on the bottom rung of the ladder to engage in the hooks 2'. The hooks i, may be raised separately or simultaneously in any convenient manner and by way of illustration they are shown as raised separately by hand. Nhen the hooks 2', have been removed the ladder falls by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2. This is effected by the ladder swinging sidewise about the pivot 03, until the hook f, engages in the supporting bar 9.

The intermediate joints m, of the side rails are provided with means by which they are always maintained at a lesser distance apart in the two parallel sets than the joints at. These means are for the purpose of insuring that the ladder when raised will collapse with the joints n, directed inward. The means will be more readily understood on reference to Fig. 3. One of the links 6, that is to say, the upper one in Fig. 3, is provided with a side projection Z, which is adapted, on the swinging movement of the lever to move in a restricted arcuate recess is, in the lower lever b, in Fig. 3. The collapsed position of the links 6, is also determined by side recesses 0, in the links I) which recesses engage over the cross bars 0. For the purpose of facilitating the lowering of the ladder a rope r, may be provided as shown in Fig. 2. This rope is for the purpose of swinging the ladder about the pivot (Z. For pulling the ladder into collapsed position shown in Fig. 1, from the extended position shown in Fig. 2, a rope p, may be provided passing over a pulley q.

I claim:

1. In a fire-escape ladder, parallel side bars, consisting of pivoted links, rungs or cross bars carried by oppositely disposed,

alternate link connections, means for maintaining the link connections between each pair of said rungs a shorter distance apart than the link connections carrying said rungs, means for pivotally securing the top rung in vertical position and the ladder in horizontal position to a support secured to a house, means for releasing said ladder, and means secured to the outer freeend of said top rung for engaging a bar of said support when the ladder is swung from its horizontal into its vertical position.

2. In a fire-escape ladder, parallel side bars consisting of pivoted links, rungs or cross bars carried by oppositely disposed alternate link connections, means for maintaining the link connections between each pair of said rungs a shorter distance apart support when swinging the ladder from its position of rest into its working position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thls specificatlon 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH RAUBER.

itnesses KARL Eomrns, TAIAN CHINKEWITZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

